Over 200 people convicted of drink driving in local courts last year

Over 200 people were convicted of drink driving in the Shannonside region last year –

Mullingar saw the largest amount of drivers before the courts last year – with Longford reporting a 69 percent increase in the number of people convicted for drink driving last year compared to 2016.

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Figures released to Sinn Fein TD Peadar Tobin reveal a huge increase in the number of people convicted of drink driving last year compared to 2016 in the Shannonside region.

The figures, broken down by District Court level, show Mullingar’s court’s service saw the highest number of drink drivers before the bench last year – with 89 offences successfully prosecuted.

The second highest number of drink driving convictions in the Shannonside region’s courthouses occurred in Longford, where 66 motorists were found to be over the legal limit in 2017.

Longford recorded a 69 percent rise in its drink driving figures – with 39 people being convicted of drink driving in 2016.

At Athlone District Court 46 people were convicted of drink-driving last year, while 20 people were given at minimum penalty points and fine following convictions for drink driving at Carrick-on-Shannon District court – up from 10 convictions in 2016.

Roscommon District Court saw nine people convicted of drink driving – down from 19 the year before.

There was no drink driving convictions recorded in Ballaghaderreen or Strokestown last year – and just one at Castlerea District Court.

In total 3,254 people were convicted of drink driving last year in Ireland, a 20 percent increase on figures for 2016.